Novak Djokovic can become only the second man in history to have twice held all four Grand Slam titles at the same time with a victory at the French Open.
Novak Djokovic
Paris:
Federer and Nadal, with 20 and 17 career Grand Slam titles each respectively, may be ahead of the 15-time major winner Djokovic in total hauls. They both have also completed career Slams. But, not even Federer or Nadal have managed to hold all four of the sport’s greatest prizes at the same time. It is such a rare feat that only Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) – all calendar GSs -- have pulled off the sweep in history.
Djokovic, who turned 32 on Wednesday, is playing down his potential date with destiny even if it would put him halfway to a 2019 calendar Slam of his own. After losing to Nadal in the Italian Open final last weekend, the Serb was in no doubt that it is the Spaniard who is likely to celebrate a 12th Roland Garros title in a little over two weeks’ time.
“Nadal, number one favourite, without a doubt -- then everyone else,” he said. Djokovic, who will be the top seed, could be forgiven for his caution. At Roland Garros in 2018, he was shocked by Italian journeyman Marco Cecchinato in the quarter-finals, a defeat which was such a crushing body blow that he even contemplated skipping Wimbledon.
Federer is returning to the French Open for the first time since 2015, having turned his back on clay court tennis for the last few years.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of his one and only Paris triumph and should the 37-year-old defy the odds and clinch the 2019 title, he would become the oldest GS champion of all time.
Age hasn’t dimmed his ability, with Federer saving match points to beat Gael Monfils in Madrid. He did the same against Borna Coric in Rome as he found his feet again on European red clay.
However, a returning Roger Federer and rejuvenated Rafael Nadal will once again stand in his way. World number one Djokovic completed his first private stranglehold of all four Slams with a success at Roland Garros in 2016. Having clinched the 2018 Wimbledon and US Open titles and then a seventh Australian Open crown in January this year, the Serb is tantalisingly close to another ‘Djoko Slam’.
Federer and Nadal, with 20 and 17 career Grand Slam titles each respectively, may be ahead of the 15-time major winner Djokovic in total hauls. They both have also completed career Slams. But, not even Federer or Nadal have managed to hold all four of the sport’s greatest prizes at the same time. It is such a rare feat that only Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) – all calendar GSs -- have pulled off the sweep in history.
Djokovic, who turned 32 on Wednesday, is playing down his potential date with destiny even if it would put him halfway to a 2019 calendar Slam of his own. After losing to Nadal in the Italian Open final last weekend, the Serb was in no doubt that it is the Spaniard who is likely to celebrate a 12th Roland Garros title in a little over two weeks’ time.
“Nadal, number one favourite, without a doubt -- then everyone else,” he said. Djokovic, who will be the top seed, could be forgiven for his caution. At Roland Garros in 2018, he was shocked by Italian journeyman Marco Cecchinato in the quarter-finals, a defeat which was such a crushing body blow that he even contemplated skipping Wimbledon.
Federer is returning to the French Open for the first time since 2015, having turned his back on clay court tennis for the last few years.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of his one and only Paris triumph and should the 37-year-old defy the odds and clinch the 2019 title, he would become the oldest GS champion of all time.
Age hasn’t dimmed his ability, with Federer saving match points to beat Gael Monfils in Madrid. He did the same against Borna Coric in Rome as he found his feet again on European red clay.